I need some advice ... I'm a C5/C6 quad since 2005, it was a result of Transverse Myelitis;



I haven't had too many health problems, just a handful of UTI's ... but the one thing that is bugging is that I seem to be losing mass in parts of my body that are inactive, I'm not sure weather it's muslce of fat or both but the more I think about it's fat ... I'm 6'1 and weight around 55 kg's but before being in a chair I weighted 63-65 kgs, I've never in my life put on weight - I've never weight more than 65 kgs and right I can't put weight on ... I'm not sure what to do or if what is happening needs medical attention but in saying that when I have talked to my doctor he has dismissed what I say because the scales say that I haven't loss much weight ...

What should I focus on doing?

Should I try to eat 2500-3000 caloires a day and put the mass back with fat?

Or should I buy a EMS unit and try to simulate the muscles that are inactive, so I get a liitle bit of muscle tone back?

But in say that = getting a EMS unit;



So the question is does most C6/C5/C4 quads lose alot of the muslce that is now inactive but replace it with fat? This would make sense seeing as most people in chair have problems keeping their weight down ... if that he case maybe instead of going out and spending money on a EMS unit, I should just focus on eat 2500-3000 calories a day?

Also so you know, all I'm interested in is getting back some mass so I have some padding/protection and I'm not boney around my back side, chest, elbows and fore arms weather it muscle or fat I don't care ... has anybody had similar problems to this???

Heres a picture ...

Yup, lossing muscle around forearms (and legs of course) and gaining it in stomach and trunk area are common. Some gain and others lose depending on how active or INactive you become. Eat more protein, wheel around on your own (if possible capable). Just be active

Thats the weird thing I'm in a manual chair - been in one for 4 years and go to the gym regularly, last week I was up to 20 kgs on my arm exercises ... it seems be active for me doesn't make a difference.

Wasting away of the muscles and losing muscle mass is something that is just going to happen, especially to those parts of your body that you don't have functional use of (paralysis, no movement) even with the all the weight training that you do at the gym, if you're not using All the muscles, those muscle that aren't getting used will decrease in size.
It's important to incorporate exercise into your daily routine especially to maintain good cardiovascular health (strong heart and endurance).
Purchasing and EMS might increase your muscle mass due to the stimulation, but it won't stimulate and train your muscles to function on their own (volitionally). I would definitely NOT increase your caloric intake. That will not increase your muscle mass, it will most definitely increase your weight. It's calories in vs. calories out...simple math, if you don't burn the amount of calories that you take in, the calories have to go somewhere and it's usually the belly. Definitely consult with a nutritionist about your caloric intake.

I have had a SCI for 33 years and have gone through one pregnancy. I've been able to maintain a good weight for me through proper nutrtion and exercise. I do have areas of my body that have decreased muscle mass but I have lived a full,healthy, productive life (knock on wood) for 33 years and hope to have at least another good 10-20 left in me.

It's everything within moderation and live life as fullyas possible. These things happen and it's just what you do with what you have that makes all the difference.

Good Luck to you.

I've got a question. I am paralyzed from my waist down and can only wiggle my toes (sometimes). I really do not have any major spascticity or spasm problems. I can already tell (I only became paralyzed on March 12) that my calves are getting smaller. I am not huge but I am about 30 pounds overweight so I know that I have plenty of fat on my legs. But if I can already tell my legs are getting smaller (with the extra padding I already have) I am just wondering how long it takes for your legs (or muscles) to get as little as they are going to get. Like, I see people that are paraplegics on You Tube and there legs are really little. I am wondering if this will happen and if it does, how long does it take for the muscle mass to shrink to that size? Maybe this is all a crazy question but I am really curious and want to know if my legs will do that or not and if I will know when they are going to be as small as they will get. How long does it take for muscles to completely waste away. I am really hoping mine will just stop where they are right now.

Mine are still shrinking and it's been over 8 months, I met a girl who had been injured 2 years and hers were smaller again.

I don't know about anyone else, but I've had numerous knee surgeries and in each case the quad muscles wasted incredibly quickly when totally immobilised. A good four inches in diameter in a matter of four or five days.

So I guess the answer to you question, based on my experience, is that if you have some motor function (you can wiggle your toes), the wasting process will take longer than if you had no leg/foot movement at all. Those muscles that you still have control over may shrink, but will not waste completely provided you keep using them.